Indicted Clinton firefighter taken off payroll

Firefighter Dean S. Weeks, who was indicted this month on criminal charges stemming from an August dryer fire at his ex-wife’s house, was put on unpaid leave Friday.

Fire Chief Richard Hart said Monday that Weeks, 49, of 13 Acre St., was taken off the payroll after his arraignment last Thursday in Worcester Superior Court. He was released on personal recognizance, with his case continued to Nov. 29.

He was indicted by a Worcester grand jury on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (propane gas), assault and battery on a disabled person causing bodily injury, wanton destruction of property valued over $250 and misleading a grand jury, prosecutor or police officer.

He was placed on paid administrative leave from the Fire Department on Sept. 2.

The Aug. 13 fire at 3 Woodruff Road, off Mill Street Extension near the Lancaster line, was caused by an explosion in the dryer. It was reported around 5 p.m.

Weeks’ former wife, Doreen Weeks, who has multiple sclerosis, suffered burns to her arms and legs, and her hair was singed.

The fire caused an estimated $5,000 in damage to the house.

Dean Weeks entered not-guilty pleas at the arraignment.

Authorities said Doreen Weeks told police her husband had worked on the dryer about three weeks earlier.

Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Travers told Judge James Lemire that an investigation by the state fire marshal’s office determined Dean Weeks worked on the propane tank at his ex-wife’s home on the day of the blaze.

The assistant district attorney said there was evidence that Dean Weeks later told two 18-year-old men employed by him that they should not inform police he had worked on the propane tank.

The couple’s divorce became final about three weeks before the fire. Doreen Weeks took out a restraining order against her ex-husband Aug. 20, alleging he had approached her as she was being placed in an ambulance on the day of the fire and warned that if she “told anyone, he would lose his job and I would get nothing.”

Doreen Weeks said in an affidavit in support of the restraining order that the explosion and fire occurred after her ex-husband told her to check the dryer and that she feared for her life.

As conditions of Dean Weeks’ release, he was ordered to have no contact with his ex-wife or any witnesses in the case and to stay away from 3 Woodruff Road.